{"id":888,"date":"2025-12-19T00:43:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T00:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/?p=888"},"modified":"2025-12-19T01:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T01:22:00","slug":"investment-insight-winter-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/investment-insight-winter-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Investment Insight &#8211; Winter 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>The End of an Era\u2014and to New Beginnings<\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:a7e9e41b-de2b-44a2-8878-68d023fb4c9a\"><strong>Download PDF Here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">It is the end of an era: after 60 years at <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the helm, one of the world\u2019s most closely <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">watched investors has stepped down as CEO.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Very few people stay in one role for six <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">decades. For context, the median tenure with <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">a single employer dropped to 3.9 years in <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the U.S., while the average working life spans <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">roughly 37 years. This puts into perspective <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the remarkable length of Warren Buffett\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">leadership of Berkshire Hathaway\u2014nearly <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">twice the span of a typical career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Even if you don\u2019t subscribe to Buffett\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">investing philosophy, the scale of his <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">accomplishments is clear. After taking <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">control in 1965, he transformed Berkshire <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">from a\u00a0 struggling textile mill into a multinational <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">conglomerate holding company, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">growing its share price from about $19 to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">roughly $745,000\u2014a cumulative gain of <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">nearly 4,000,000 percent! In 2024, Berkshire <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">became the first U.S. non-tech company to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">surpass a trillion-dollar market capitalization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Now 95, Buffett shared in November <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">that he was \u201cgoing quiet\u201d and will no <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">longer write the annual letter or speak at <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Berkshire\u2019s annual meeting. In his farewell, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">he offered reflections on both business <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">and life.\u00a0 As we begin a new year, several <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">insights may serve as practical reminders <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">for our own wealth management:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Succession planning takes time.<\/strong> Greg Abel, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">named as Buffett\u2019s successor in 2021, has <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">been groomed for many years, spending <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">nearly three decades at Berkshire and rising <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to Vice Chairman in 2018. Even after the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">transition, Buffett plans to \u201ckeep a significant <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">amount\u201d of his shares until shareholders gain <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">confidence in Abel\u2019s\u00a0 leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Estate planning is fluid.<\/strong> Buffett has <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">revised his estate plan many times over <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the years. His \u201cunexpected longevity has <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">unavoidable consequences\u201d as his three <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">children are now beyond retirement age <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">(72, 70 and 67). He now aims to accelerate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">lifetime gifts to their foundations so they <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">can fulfill his goal of distributing his entire <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">estate while they\u2019re alive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Markets go up and down.<\/strong> While market <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">returns have been strong in recent years, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Buffett reminds us that markets\u2014and <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">economies\u2014will also see difficult times: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">\u201cOur stock price will move capriciously, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">occasionally falling 50 percent or so as <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">has happened three times\u2026under present <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">management. Don\u2019t despair; America will come <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">back, and so will Berkshire shares.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Our time is limited.<\/strong> \u201cFather Time&#8230;is <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">undefeated; for him, everyone ends up on his <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">score card as wins,\u201d Buffett notes. His advice? <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">\u201cDecide what you would like your obituary to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">say and live the life to deserve it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Buffett has long emphasized that money <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">is a tool, not a purpose: \u201cGreatness does <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">not come about through accumulating great <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">amounts of money, great amounts of publicity <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">or great power in government.\u201d Despite his <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">accomplishments, Buffett distills success <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">into something far simpler: \u201cWhen you help <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">someone in any of thousands of ways, you help <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the world. Kindness is costless but also priceless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Indeed, Buffett\u2019s humility appears to have <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">deepened with age. He acknowledges <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the role of luck in his successes\u2014and the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">successes of many others\u2014and admits he\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">fallen short of his own ideals many times <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">before: \u201cI have been thoughtless countless <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">times and made many mistakes but became <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">very lucky in learning from some wonderful <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">friends how to behave better.\u201d His reminder: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">\u201cThe cleaning lady is as much a human being as <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the Chairman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">And now, as he retires while still retaining the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Chairman role, Buffett signs off with a message <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">well-suited for a new year: \u201cChoose your heroes <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">very carefully and then emulate them. You\u2019ll <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">never be perfect, but you can always be better.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">As we turn the page to 2026, here\u2019s to a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">new year that inspires reflection, growth <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">and purpose\u2014and, as in Buffett\u2019s case, new <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">beginnings. Happy New Year!<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>In This Issue<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">For 2026: Make Estate Planning a Priority &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 2<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Equity Market Perspectives: Growth Is Expected to Continue &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 2<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The RRSP: Why Are We Falling Short? Debunking Two Myths &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">In Brief: What Is the \u201cK-Shaped\u201d Economy? &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Budget 2025: \u201cGenerational Capital Investments To Build Canada Strong\u201d &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 4<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>FINANCIAL RESOLUTION TIME<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h1><strong>For 2026: Make Estate Planning a Priority<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Happy 2026! If improving your financial well-being is on your list <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">of New Year\u2019s resolutions, a great place to start is with your estate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">plan. A comprehensive plan ensures your assets are distributed <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">according to your wishes, while helping to maximize the legacy <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">you leave behind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">If you already have an estate plan in place, here are five questions <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to ask that may prompt a review:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Does my plan promote efficient administration and limit <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">unnecessary expenses?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Will my plan minimize family effort\u2014or even potential <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">conflict?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Are my assets protected from potential liabilities, such as <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">former spouses or creditors?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Do I have safeguards in place to allow my family to make <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">financial and healthcare decisions if I am unable?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Can my family maintain their current lifestyle if I am no <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">longer able to contribute?<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Minimizing Taxes &amp; Fees<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">A key goal of many estate plans is to reduce taxes and other fees. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">For Canadian income tax purposes, most assets\u2014including real <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">property and shares\u2014are deemed to be disposed of immediately <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">prior to death and may be subject to tax, except where certain <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">exceptions, such as spousal rollovers, apply. Some provinces also <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">charge probate fees, which can vary significantly. Additionally, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Canadians holding U.S. situs assets, such as shares of U.S. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">corporations or U.S. real estate, may need to plan for potential <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">U.S. estate tax.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">While taxes and fees can create a substantial obligation for many\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">estates, careful planning can help <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">reduce or defer them. This may be <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">as simple as arranging bequests <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">differently, using life insurance <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to help cover tax liabilities or, for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">business owners, leveraging tools <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">such as an estate freeze or the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">ease succession planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">It\u2019s More Than Just Finances<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">A comprehensive estate plan goes beyond maximizing the estate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">value passed to beneficiaries. It can also ensure fairness among <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">heirs or protect those who may need guidance in managing <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">assets. Trusts, for example, can help preserve assets for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">beneficiaries who cannot manage them independently or prevent <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">access by creditors. By planning ahead, you can create a lasting <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">foundation that reflects your values and helps your legacy endure <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">across generations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Why Not Make Estate Planning a Priority in 2026?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Like many things in life, estate planning can easily fall down the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">priority list. For some, the subject feels unsettling, perhaps a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">reminder of our own mortality. For others, it simply gets lost in <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the bustle of daily life. Yet establishing a basic plan, and keeping it <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">updated as circumstances change, is one of the greatest gifts you <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">can give to your loved ones. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Being familiar with the many aspects of your financial situation, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">we can provide guidance, counsel or recommendations for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">experts in the field to assist with your estate plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>LOOKING BELOW THE SURFACE<\/h2>\n<h1>Equity Market Perspectives: Growth Is Expected to Continue<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">After equity markets continued to reach new highs in 2025, there <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">have been renewed concerns about elevated valuations. Are <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">stock prices outpacing underlying\u00a0 fundamentals, or is there still <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">room to run?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-894\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-Chart-winter-newsletter-300x238.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"352\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-Chart-winter-newsletter-300x238.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-Chart-winter-newsletter.png 437w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Many factors influence market <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">performance\u2014government <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">policies, geopolitical events, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">economic growth, inflation, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">interest rates and even the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">headlines. Yet over the long <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">run, one of the most powerful <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">drivers is corporate earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-895\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/earning-winter-newsletter-300x206.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"389\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/earning-winter-newsletter-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/earning-winter-newsletter.png 545w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The earnings story, so far, has <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">been strong. U.S. corporate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">margins have <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">expanded, with the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">average S&amp;P 500 <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">net income margin <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">climbing above 10 <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">percent this decade, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">roughly double the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">level of the 1990s. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Canadian corporate profits have followed a similar trajectory, though fluctuations in commodity prices, including a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">pronounced peak in 2022, have added more volatility to overall profits (graph above).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Looking <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">ahead, several <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">factors <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">suggest that <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">this growth <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">can continue. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Companies are benefiting from technological innovation, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">productivity gains and resilient\u00a0 consumer demand, all of which <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">support sustained earnings growth. Of course, history reminds <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">us that earnings growth alone doesn\u2019t guarantee high market <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">returns. In the 1970s, despite solid earnings growth of 9.9 <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">percent, high inflation and the global energy shocks kept equity <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">markets subdued. Indeed, growth in markets,\u00a0 economies\u2014and <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">even human progress\u2014is rarely linear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Even so, the current strength in earnings should not be <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">overlooked. Robust corporate profits have been, and remain, a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">key driver of market strength. As we look ahead\u00a0 to 2026, here\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to continued earnings growth to provide the fuel for markets <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to keep advancing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-896\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-500-Key-drivers-of-stock-market-perfornance-300x203.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"410\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-500-Key-drivers-of-stock-market-perfornance-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/SP-500-Key-drivers-of-stock-market-perfornance.png 624w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>RRSP SEASON IS HERE AGAIN<\/h2>\n<h1>The RRSP: Why Are We Falling Short? Debunking Two Myths<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">While many of us are unhappy about the high taxes we pay, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">one way to ease the burden is by fully using tax-advantaged <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">accounts. Yet RRSP participation rates have declined over the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">past two decades, from 29.1 percent of taxpayers in 2000 to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">just 21.7 percent in 2022. The good news: high-income earners <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">are more likely to contribute: 66 percent of taxpayers earning <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">between $200,000 and $500,000 contributed in 2023. But younger <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Canadians are falling short. The introduction of the Tax-Free <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Savings Account (TFSA) in 2009 may be part of the reason, but <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">persistent misconceptions about the RRSP also play a role. Let\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">address two common myths:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Myth 1: It\u2019s better to invest in a TFSA than an RRSP. <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">In fact, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the RRSP generally yields a greater benefit if you expect a lower <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax rate in retirement. In practice, many contribute to their RRSP <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">during higher-income working years and withdraw when income <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">is lower in retirement, leading to an advantage for the RRSP. Of <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">course, there may be situations when the TFSA is a better choice, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">such as if you have a higher tax rate at withdrawal or face recovery <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax for income-tested benefits like Old Age Security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Myth 2: RRSPs aren\u2019t worth it because withdrawals are fully <\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">taxed, whereas in non-registered accounts, only income and <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>gains are taxed.<\/strong> A common complaint is that RRSP withdrawals <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">are fully taxed at marginal rates, whereas non-registered accounts <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">only tax income and gains (with favourable tax treatment for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">dividends and capital gains). While it\u2019s true that RRSP withdrawals <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">(usually from a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF)) are <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">taxed as income, what\u2019s often forgotten is the initial tax deduction <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">at contribution. Remember: a $30,000 RRSP contribution is <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">equivalent to an after-tax contribution of $18,000 at a marginal <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax rate of 40 percent. If your tax rate is the same at the time of <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">contribution and withdrawal, you effectively receive a tax-free rate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">of return on your net after-tax RRSP contribution (chart). In many cases, even if your tax rate is higher at the time of withdrawal, you may be better off compared to a non-registered account due to the effect of tax-free compounding over long time periods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-897\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/contribution-chart-winter-2025-300x141.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"455\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/contribution-chart-winter-2025-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/contribution-chart-winter-2025-768x362.png 768w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/contribution-chart-winter-2025.png 810w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 455px) 100vw, 455px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">While the fair market value of the RRSP\/RRIF at death is generally <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">included in the terminal tax return and taxed at marginal rates, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">there may be ways to mitigate the potential tax liability. This includes <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">a tax-deferred rollover to a spouse or financially dependent (grand) <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">child. Another way to manage the potential tax bill is to engage in a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">\u201cmeltdown strategy,\u201d making withdrawals earlier when your tax rate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">is lower than you expect in the future or at the year of death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-898\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/2026-Reminder-for-Tax-Advantaged-accounts-winter-newsletter-300x108.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/2026-Reminder-for-Tax-Advantaged-accounts-winter-newsletter-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/2026-Reminder-for-Tax-Advantaged-accounts-winter-newsletter-768x277.png 768w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/2026-Reminder-for-Tax-Advantaged-accounts-winter-newsletter.png 811w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>MACROECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES<\/h2>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">In Brief: What Is the \u201cK-Shaped\u201d Economy?<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The eleventh letter of the alphabet has taken on new meaning. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The letter \u201cK\u201d is now used to describe the bifurcation in today\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">economy. Different consumer segments and the businesses <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">that serve them are growing at different rates. Indeed, there\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">a divergence: The upward-slanting arm of the \u201cK\u201d represents <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">higher-income households with strong consumer spending, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">fuelled by healthy income growth and rising wealth. In contrast, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the downward-slanting arm represents low- and middle-income <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">households facing rising living costs, stagnant wages and higher <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">debt burdens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Since consumer spending drives more than two-thirds of total U.S. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">GDP, this divide carries implications. Higher-income households <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">are now responsible for a disproportionate share of economic <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">activity. In Q2 2025, the top 10 percent of income earners <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">accounted for nearly half of all U.S. consumer spending. This <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">imbalance underscores how economic resilience has become <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">concentrated among wealthier consumers\u2014those benefiting <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">most from asset price appreciation. As a result, the softer <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">labour-market figures observed in 2025 that largely impacted <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">lower-income households attracted less attention as they didn\u2019t <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">materially affect overall\u00a0 consumption.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Where are economies and markets headed in 2026? In 2025, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">artificial intelligence (AI) was a key driver of market enthusiasm. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">If AI capital investments deliver productivity gains, markets may <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">look past ongoing labour-market weakness, effectively shrugging\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">off the lower part of the K\u2014although <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">expectations may already be partly <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">reflected in valuations. At the same <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">time, monetary stimulus from interest <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">rate cuts in Canada and the U.S., <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tariff renegotiations and potential <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">U.S. tax refunds could strengthen <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">labour markets and support more <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">exposed sectors. Yet some argue <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the same stimulus has exacerbated <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">wealth inequality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">As advisors, we continue to navigate the evolving landscape. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The \u201cK-shaped\u201d economy reinforces the value of time-tested <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">principles\u2014diversification, a focus on quality and ongoing <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">risk management\u2014as key to successful long-term wealth <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">management in an increasingly uneven economic environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-909\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/Share-of-total-welath-held-by-top-10-winter-newsletter-300x103.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"492\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/Share-of-total-welath-held-by-top-10-winter-newsletter-300x103.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/Share-of-total-welath-held-by-top-10-winter-newsletter-768x262.png 768w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/Share-of-total-welath-held-by-top-10-winter-newsletter.png 831w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>UPDATE ON FISCAL SPENDING, DEBT &amp; TAXES<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Budget 2025: \u201cGenerational Capital Investments To Build Canada Strong\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Canada\u2019s 2025 federal budget, delivered on November 4th <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">instead of the usual spring release, marks a shift toward what <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Prime Minister Carney calls a \u201cgenerational\u201d investment in the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">country\u2019s future. Framed as a plan to rebuild national capacity <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">and competitiveness, the budget commits $450 billion in <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">new spending\u2014primarily on infrastructure, productivity and <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">defense\u2014while projecting a $78.3 billion deficit for 2025\u201326. This <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">falls to $57.9 billion by 2028\u201329,but adds around $322 billion to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Canada\u2019s debt over that period (2025 to 2030). Total spending <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">cuts are projected to be $60 billion over five years. Public debt <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">charges are expected to rise by $22.7 billion during the same <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">period, meaning that by 2030, Canada will be spending an <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">estimated $1.46 billion per week on interest payments alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Carney also introduced a new method of reporting that <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">separates operating expenses from capital investment <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">spending, pledging to balance the operating budget within <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">three years. Opinions are divided: critics call it an accounting <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">manoeuvre to obscure underlying deficits, while supporters see <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">it as a way to distinguish between spending that \u201csustains\u201d from <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">that which \u201cbuilds\u201d national capacity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">No changes were made to federal personal or corporate tax <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">rates. The budget confirms the previously announced \u201cmiddleclass <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax cut,\u201d reducing the lowest personal income tax rate (on <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">income up to $57,375, for 2025) from 15 percent to 14.5 percent <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">in 2025, and 14 percent in 2026. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-911\" src=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/G7-General-Government-Net-Gorss-Debt-to-GDP-ratio-winter-newsletter-300x142.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"697\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/G7-General-Government-Net-Gorss-Debt-to-GDP-ratio-winter-newsletter-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/G7-General-Government-Net-Gorss-Debt-to-GDP-ratio-winter-newsletter-768x362.png 768w, https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/137\/2025\/12\/G7-General-Government-Net-Gorss-Debt-to-GDP-ratio-winter-newsletter.png 839w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Here are some of the more notable proposed income tax <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">measures that may affect investors:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Top-Up Tax Credit<\/strong> \u2014 A new non-refundable credit to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">effectively maintain the 15 percent rate for non-refundable <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax credits claimed on amounts in excess of the first income <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">tax bracket threshold. This prevents taxpayers\u2014such as those <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">claiming large one-time expenses (e.g., tuition)\u2014from facing <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">higher tax liability under the lowest bracket rate. This would <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">apply for the 2025 to 2030 taxation years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Personal Support Workers (PSWs) Tax Credit<\/strong> \u2014 A temporary <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">five-year refundable tax credit (2026 to 2030 tax years) for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">eligible PSWs working in approved health care facilities equal <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to 5 percent of eligible earnings, up to $1,100 annually. This <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">excludes BC, NWT and NL, where bilateral agreements exist. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Trusts &amp; the 21-Year Rule<\/strong> \u2014 Broadens the anti-avoidance <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">provisions for certain transactions involving trusts that aim to <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">sidestep the 21-year deemed disposition rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Bare Trust Reporting Deferral<\/strong> \u2014 Defers the bare trust <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">reporting requirements by one year, applying to taxation <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">years ending on or after December 31, 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption<\/strong> \u2014 Confirms the increase <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">to the limit to $1.25 million (and indexed, starting in 2026), <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">announced under Budget 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Canadian Entrepreneurs\u2019 Incentive: Cancelled<\/strong> \u2014 Appears this <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">incentive, originally proposed under Budget 2024, will not proceed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Luxury Tax Changes<\/strong> \u2014 Proposes to eliminate the luxury tax <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">on aircraft and boats after November 4, 2025, while retaining <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the tax on automobiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Underused Housing Tax Repealed<\/strong> \u2014 Proposes to eliminate <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">this tax effective as of the 2025 calendar year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">\u2022 Qualified Investments for Registered Plans: Small <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>Business Investments<\/strong> \u2014 Starting 2027, proposes that <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">investments in specified small business corporations,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">venture capital corporations and specified cooperative <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">corporations will be extended to RDSPs, aligning with other <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">registered plans. However, investments in shares of eligible <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">corporations and interests in small business investment <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">limited partnerships and small business investment trusts will <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">no longer be qualified investments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>\u2022 Home Accessibility Tax Credit<\/strong> \u2014 Before Budget 2025, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">it was possible to claim a tax credit for the same expense <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">incurred under the medical expense tax credit and the home <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">accessibility tax credit. From 2026, expenses claimed under <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">the medical expense tax credit can no longer be claimed <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">under the home accessibility tax credit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">For more information, please see: https:\/\/budget.canada.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">ca\/2025\/report-rapport\/intro-en.html<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Note: At the time of writing, these proposals have not been enacted into law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is the end of an era: after 60 years at the helm, one of the world\u2019s most closely watched investors has stepped down as CEO.<\/p>\n<p>Very few people stay in one role for six decades. For context, the median tenure with a single employer dropped to 3.9 years in the U.S., while the average working life spans roughly 37 years. This puts into perspective the remarkable length of Warren Buffett\u2019s leadership of Berkshire Hathaway\u2014nearly twice the span of a typical career.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t subscribe to Buffett\u2019s investing philosophy, the scale of his accomplishments is clear. After taking control in 1965, he transformed Berkshire from a\u00a0 struggling textile mill into a multinational conglomerate holding company, growing its share price from about $19 to roughly $745,000\u2014a cumulative gain of nearly 4,000,000 percent! In 2024, Berkshire became the first U.S. non-tech company to surpass a trillion-dollar market capitalization.<br \/>\nNow 95, Buffett shared in November that he was \u201cgoing quiet\u201d and will no longer write the annual letter or speak at Berkshire\u2019s annual meeting. In his farewell, he offered reflections on both business and life.\u00a0 As we begin a new year, several insights may serve as practical reminders for our own wealth management:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":922,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888\/revisions\/922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advisor.wellington-altus.ca\/catalyst\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}